Tightening its vigil to ensure free and fair polls in Uttar Pradesh, the Election Commission on Friday decided to depute one of its Deputy Election Commissioners to monitor the first phase of polling on Saturday.

Deputy Election Commissioner J P Prakash would supervise the polling for the entire day on Saturday, make surprise visits to polling stations and conduct random checks, EC sources said in New Delhi.

The Commission, for the first time, appointed a Special Observer for each of the seven phases and above 500 Generaland Expenditure Observers for the conduct of the polls.